Lady Falcons back in state playoffs

Loving, shown here in a District 4-3A match Thursday, Oct. 20 at Dexter, will be the No. 9 seed in this year's 3A state tournament. Dexter will be the No. 3 seed, while Tularosa will be the No. 8 seed.(Photo: File photo by Matt Hollinshead -- Current-Argus)Buy Photo

As Loving’s volleyball coach from 1993-1999, he guided the Lady Falcons to three district titles, four playoff appearances and one state finals appearance.

Cordova is back for his second stint with the team, and Loving will return to the playoffs for the first time since reaching the state finals in 1999.

The Lady Falcons will be the No. 9 overall seed and will open the 2016 Rudy's "Country Store" & Bar-B-Q 3A State Volleyball Championships in Group D of pool play against No. 4 seed Santa Rosa and No. 5 seed Estancia starting at 8 a.m. Thursday at Rio Rancho High.

The third and second seeds in Group D will start the first round at 4 p.m. and 5:45 p.m. Thursday at Cleveland High, while the Group D winner will have a first-round bye.

“We’re happy just to get in. I can’t express how much hard work they put in and how much they deserve it,” Cordova said. “I'm just anxious to see the girls’ faces and their emotions. I can’t wait.”

Cordova said it wasa “nerve-racking” wait for brackets announcements, but he still expected his squad to be either the No. 8 or No. 9 seed.

Cordova said playing in a tougher district, featuring third-seeded Dexter and eighth-seeded Tularosa, helped Loving’s case. Cordova also said playing in multiple five-set district matches and sweeping Dexter to conclude the regular season brought out the best in the program (16-6).

“Being in those types of games in the last month is going to make us much stronger. It’s going to be to our advantage to play with those tough teams,” Cordova said.

Cordova said Loving’s straight-set win over Dexter set the bar to the team's deep run and hopeful win in the state tournament.

“I’ve been there. I know what to expect,” Cordova said.

During his first stint, Cordova said Loving was ousted early during the first three playoff appearances.

“I was getting tired of that,” Cordova said.

In 1999, however, Cordova said his team dug deep, stayed in the moment and reached the state finals. Cordova said he’s reflecting on that particular season, for which most of the current players weren’t even yet born, to prepare his squad for this year’s tournament.

This time around, Cordova said he feels better about Loving’s playoff chances this year because of the tougher district.

“Mentally, it makes you tougher,” Cordova said.

3A state volleyball playoffs, pool play

Group A - No. 1 Texico, No. 8 Tularosa, No. 12 Crownpoint

Group B - No. 2 Dulce, No. 7 Desert Academy, No. 11 Laguna Acoma

Group C - No. 3 Dexter, No. 6 Raton, No. 10 Rehoboth Christian

Group D - No. 4 Santa Rosa, No. 5 Estancia, No. 9 Loving

Artesia back in playoffs

The Lady Bulldogs (16-5) are the No. 3 overall seed in the 5A state tournament and will open in Group C of pool play Thursday against No. 6 Aztec and No. 10. Goddard at the Santa Ana Star Center.

The third and second seeds in Group C will start the first round at 5:15 Thursday, and the Group C winner will have a first-round bye.

Artesia seeks its third state title since 2010.

5A state volleyball playoffs, pool play

Group A - No. 1 St. Pius, No. 8 Valencia, No. 12 Chaparral

Group B - No. 2 Los Lunas, No. 7 Santa Teresa, No. 11 Del Norte

Group C - No. 3 Artesia, No. 6 Aztec, No. 10 Goddard

Group D - No. 4 Roswell, No. 5 Espanola Valley, No. 9 Farmington

Current-Argus Sports Editor Matt Hollinshead may be reached at 575-628-5518, mhollinshead@currentargus.com and @MattH_717 on Twitter.